Thomas went 10-of-19 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. The 5-foot-9 All-Star has scored 20 points or more in 17 straight games.

Avery Bradley, who missed Sunday's game against the Lakers for the birth of his second child, returned to the lineup Wednesday night and scored 13 points for the Celtics. Bradley also knocked down a three-pointer with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter, which helped the Celtics pull away from the Pelicans and gave Boston a 102-95 lead.

Toney Douglas scored a team-high 19 points and Tim Frazier added 18 points for the Pelicans, who had a total of nine players on the injury report, including three-time All-Star Anthony Davis. The 23-year-old Davis underwent surgery on his left knee last month. He also has a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which the team says does not require surgery.

Celtics guard Marcus Smart left the game after suffering a laceration above his left eye late in the fourth quarter. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Smart received four stitches and should be ready for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Evan Turner sat out Wednesday's game with an eye abrasion. Turner, who suffered the injury with 15 seconds left in Sunday's win over the Lakers, could return to the Celtics' lineup later this week.

“Evan just saw the doctor again today,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said before Wednesday's game. “He’s set to do light non-contact shooting [Thursday] with a chance that he’d play on Friday.”

Next up for the Celtics: a home game Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics will then close out the regular season with games against Atlanta, Charlotte and Miami, all of which are battling the Celtics for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference.